Pine Leaf-mining Moth
Clavigesta purdeyi
This record describes Clavigesta purdeyi (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10-12 mm. Quite a small but brightly coloured Tortrix. Various habitats but preferring areas with Pine. Flying from July to September, the adults are attracted to light. The larvae feed internally on the needles of Pine, overwintering in this stage. This moth, in common with some other coniferous-feeding species, has expanded its range during the last century. Earlier only occurring in southern England, it is now widely distributed in England and Wales though still not particularly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Clavigesta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats but preferring areas with Pine.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from July to September, the adults are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed internally on the needles of Pine, overwintering in this stage.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth, in common with some other coniferous-feeding species, has expanded its range during the last century. Earlier only occurring in southern England, it is now widely distributed in England and Wales though still not particularly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Clavigesta purdeyi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Pine Leaf-mining Moth (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Leaf-mining Moth
What is Pine Leaf-mining Moth?
Pine Leaf-mining Moth (Clavigesta purdeyi) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pine Leaf-mining Moth found?
Habitat: Various habitats but preferring areas with Pine.
When is Pine Leaf-mining Moth active?
Pine Leaf-mining Moth: seasonal activity - Flying from July to September, the adults are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Pine Leaf-mining Moth?
The larvae feed internally on the needles of Pine, overwintering in this stage.